Gurney's Post Mortem Extended Off-Bway to 12/16

The Flea Theater has announced an extension of the Off-Broadway Premiere of A.R. Gurney's comedy Post Mortem.

The play marks the fourth collaboration between The Flea, Gurney and director Jim Simpson, following the premieres of O Jerusalem, Mrs. Farnsworth, and Screen Play. The play "examines the validity of theater as a potent social force in a society rankled by political conservatism and the evangelical leanings of the right." Originally scheduled to close December 9th, performances have been extended through December 16th by popular demand.

Post Mortem "is set in the not-too-distant future when the Christian Right hold sway. Alice, a lowly lecturer in drama at a faith-based state university in the Midwest, and Dexter, an enthusiastic student more interested in his teacher than the theater, become embroiled in the discovery of a play by an obscure late 20th century playwright named A.R. Gurney.  When the authorities destroy the script, these two must piece together the play and with it the future of the world gone mad," state press materials.

Flea Artistic Director Jim Simpson directs a cast featuring Tina Benko (Dark Yellow, Lifegame, Wintertime), Christopher Kromer ("Cool in Your Code" on WNBC) and Shannon Burkett (The Ride Down Mt. Morgan, Dead City, Stupid Kids) with costumes by Claudia Brown, lighting by Brian Aldous, and set by Mimi Lien.

Playwright A.R.Gurney is the prolific author of two additional plays in the 2006-2007 season: Indian Blood at Primary Stages and Crazy Mary at Playwrights Horizons (also directed by Jim Simpson). His other plays include Scenes from American Life, Children, The Dining Room, The Middle Ages, The Perfect Party, Another Antigone, The Cocktail Hour, Love Letters, The Old Boy, The Fourth Wall, Later Life, A Cheever Evening, Sylvia, Overtime, Let's Do It (a Cole Porter musical), Labor Day, and Far East. 

Post Mortem runs through December 16, Wednesday - Friday at 7pm and Saturday at 3pm & 7pm. The Flea Theater is located at 41 White Street (between Broadway & Church Streets -- accessible from the A,C,E,N,R,Q,W,6,J,M,Z to Canal or 1 to Franklin Street). Tickets range from $18 - $45. For tickets call 212-352-3101 or visit www.TheaterMania.com.

Visit www.theflea.org for more on The Flea Theatre.